Presidential Decree No. 647 (PD 647) — Declaring Uranium, Thorium and Other Radioactive Minerals as Property of the State Not Subject to Mining Location or Disposition.
WHEREAS, uranium, thorium, and other radioactive minerals
are strategic materials needed for the development of nuclear power and
other essential critical uses;
WHEREAS, the critical shortage of petroleum and other sources
of power and fuel for the security of the State and for Philippine
economic and industrial development has heightened the importance and
necessity of finding radioactive minerals in the country;
WHEREAS, the existence and deposition of radioactive
minerals in the Philippines has to-date been merely indicated but not
proven in a few areas in the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that all radioactive mineral
resources be conserved for the sole use of the State and its agencies;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order the following:
SECTION 1. Radioactive minerals shall mean uranium, thorium
and such other minerals from which radioactive power and substances may
be generated or produced.
SEC. 2. Radioactive minerals found as raw deposits shall
form part of the patrimony of the State not subject to mining location,
lease or disposition, and shall not be processed, manufactured, refined
or used except by the Government and its agencies, or by person or
entities duly authorized for the purpose: Provided, That those
who have discovered radioactive minerals and registered the same with
the Bureau of Mines, and verified by the Director of Mines to be
existing in sufficiently exploitable quantity, shall be entitled to a
bonus of not less than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), upon the order
of the President on the recommendation of the Director of Mines.
SEC. 3. The discovery, location, registration, exploration
and exploitation of mineral deposits under existing mining laws shall
not include the rights to the radioactive minerals that may be found
within the mining claim or area leased, located or acquired.
SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of January, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ROBERTO V. REYES
Acting Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
